Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

ADEC Conference
April 29-30, 2020
Columbus, OhioThis annual conference of death educators and counselors will be held in Ohio this year. Hope will be there to attend a pre-conference workshop on Wednesday and attend the opening ceremonies on Thursday. Then she’s jetting off to…

Hedgebrook in TuscanyMay 1-8, 2020
Tuscan countryside
Hedgebrook women’s writing retreat in Washington state makes it possible each year for eight women to gather in an 11th-century villa outside the town of Panzano to work on memoirs in progress. We’ll write, discuss, eat, and explore the Tuscan countryside for a full week. Applications are available here.

Motherless Daughters Early Loss RetreatApril 23-26, 2020Toronto, ONT Canada
Our flagship three-night/four-day retreat is designed especially for women who were up to age 21 when their mothers died. Join us for a weekend of activities, story sharing, and bonding customized to the women in your group. More information is available at Motherless Daughters Retreats.Registration will open November 15 at www.motherlessdaughtersretreats.com

Motherless Daughters Early Loss RetreatJune 4-7, 2020Aldersgate Retreat Center, Pacific Palisades, CA
Our flagship three-night/four-day retreat is for women who were up to age 21 when their mothers died. Join us for a weekend of activities, story sharing, and bonding customized to the women in your group. More information is available at Motherless Daughters Retreats.

This Pop Up is a one-day gathering for women who have experienced mother loss during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Explore the philosophy and sisterhood of the Motherless Daughters community with your facilitator, Hope Edelman, MA, author of Motherless Daughters and Motherless Mothers.

WHERE: Limelight Events, conveniently located 30 minutes northwest of St. Louis, just west of the Missouri River near downtown St. Charles.WHO: Up to 50 women; early and adult lossCOST: $145 Early Bird until 5/1; $195 Regular TUITION after 5/1

Free Mother’s Day call

Mother’s Day can be a bittersweet holiday for those of us who’ve lost our moms.
It’s an occasion to remember the bond we shared, but can also be a painful annual reminder of what’s been lost. Each year, Claire Bidwell Smith and I offer a free pre-Mother’s Day call to offer support.

This year’s call took place on May 6. A recorded version can be found here.

The 2020 call day and time still TBD. Please check back!

24 luncheons took place around the world in the spring of 2019 to honor mothers who are no longer living. Check below to see if there was one near you, and to contact the organizer(s) about next year.

Brisbane, Australia
April 25Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra, Australia
May 5Motherless Daughters of Australia
Motherless Daughters is an Australian not for profit organisation dedicated to supporting girls and women who have experienced mother loss. This year they are hosting a number of events including pre Mother’s Day High Teas in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. To pre purchase a ticket, please click the link: https://www.motherlessdaughters.com.au/upcoming-events.html.

Saratoga Springs, New York
May 4 at noonThis annual gathering at the Saratoga Springs (NY) Public Library, 49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, is a gathering to remember and honor mothers. There will be refreshments and there is no cost to attend. Participants are welcome to bring a photo or other remembrance of their mothers. For more information, contact Carol at 774-275-4173.

Boston, Mass.
May 11 from 1-5:30 pmMotherless Daughters 25th Anniversary Tea andWorkshopSeaport Hotel & World Trade Center, 1 Seaport Lane, BostonMotherless Daughters is turning 25! Please join author Hope Edelman and the empowerHER organization at this special, one-time afternoon event. Hope will lead a three-hour workshop to help women reconnect with and honor their moms, followed by a High Tea and Circle of Remembrance with empowerHER members. This event is open to women who were any age when their mothers died. To learn more and register, please click here.
Chicago, IL
May 11 at 11a.m.Walk for Our Mothers
Chicago-area motherless daughters will hold a Walk for Our Mothers at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle IL. The group walks thru the beautiful Morton Arboretum grounds talking about their mothers. The morning includes a Circle of Remembrance and then the group meets in the Gingko Café. For more information, contact Ruta Spencer at [email protected] or https://www.facebook.com/chicagoareamotherlessdaughters.

Detroit, Michigan
May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Metro Detroit Motherless Daughters The Metro Detroit Motherless Daughters group will hold its 24th annual luncheon at DeCarlo’s Banquet Center, 6015 E. 10 Mile in Warren, MI, The afternoon will feature a luncheon, raffle, Circle of Remembrance, and special Guest Speaker Michelle Ann Collins. Cost is $30 by May 3. For more information, contact Vicki Waldron [email protected] or 586-337-3110

Louisville, KentuckyMay 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Remembering Our Mothers
Hosparus Health invites you to Remembering our Mothers, a gathering for women celebrating and remembering mothers who have died and keeping our connection to them. The event will be held at The University Club, 300 E. Brandeis Ave., in Lousville. Guest speaker will be Lisa Hutson, anchor WHAS11. Cost is $20 by May 3. For questions and payment, call 502-456-5451 or 800-264-0521. If paying by check, mail to Grief Counseling Center, 3526 Ephraim McDowell Dr., Louisville, KY 40205 (Payable to: Hosparus Health)

San Antonio, Texas
May 11 from 2-4 p.m.
The San Antonio area will hold its first Motherless Daughters Luncheon to remember and celebrate mothers and support each other through what can be a difficult weekend. The group will meet at Cafezhino, 15861 IH35 North, Selma, Texas. The cafe is on the access road of 35 south at Evans Rd (in front of OLPH Catholic Church) Cost is $5, which includes coffee, tea and cookies. You can also order lunch, or, if you prefer, baked goods from the Cafezhino menu. Bring a photo of your mother, framed or unframed. RSVP to Joy Thomas Martin, [email protected] or 210-632-6169.Columbus, Ohio
May 11 at noonHer Community and Individuality The Second Annual Luncheon to honor mothers who have passed will take place at the shelter house next to Whetstone Pond, Olentangy Trail in Columbus. The group will have a picnic by the pond with a small fire in the fireplace. This is a place for women to come share memories of their moms, relax, and enjoy time with other women who understand. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picture of their moms to display on the fireplace mantle. The group will also participate in the worldwide Circle of Remembrance. The park is dog friendly, and the Olentangy walking trail is also nearby. There is also a playground nearby for children. Suggested contribution to the picnice is $5-$10 or a dish. Please contact Shenan Smith at 614-323-7363 or via email at [email protected] with any questions or to RSVP. You can also visit the group’s Meetup page and Facebook page for more information.

Dubuque, Iowa
May 11 from 11am – 1pmShalom Retreat Center, 1001 Davis St.
7th annual Luncheon. Call Julie at 563-495-3332 or email [email protected] to RSVP by May 3. Cost is $20. 11-1, Shalom Retreat Center, 1001 Davis Street, Dubuque, IA, We will celebrate and honor the mothers we have lost, ending with a powerful and healing circle of remembrance.Speaker will be Deadra Longworth Stanton. Cost is $20.

Atlanta, GeorgiaMay 11Daughters and Sons Celebrate and Remember, Co-sponsored by VITAS Healthcare and Black Nurses ROC.
This is a free event. Author Allison Gilbert will be the guest speaker. For more information or to RSVP by April 22, contact Terry Branch, [email protected] or 773.217.9292.

St. Louis, Missouri
May 11 from 11am – 1pmMotherless Daughters of St. Louis is excited to be hosting their second Motherless Daughters Luncheon at The Fillmore, 6022 South Grand, St. Louis. If you live in St. Louis or the surrounding area, you are welcome to attend. Cost $30. Contact Megan Vaninger for more information at [email protected] or register here.

Los Angeles, California
May 11 from 12pm – 2:30pmMotherless Daughters of Los AngelesMaria’s Italian Kitchen, 10761 Pico Blvd.
Our annual luncheon — our 23rd! — is open to any motherless daughter who would like to get support and be with others during what, for us, can be a most difficult weekend. Speaker: Dr. Cara Barker. For more info, please click here or visit http://www.motherlessdaughtersbiz.com.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
May 11 from 11:30am – 2:30pmPlease join Wildflower, the Vancouver, BC Motherless Daughters group, at our annual luncheon. Our venues are confidential so that we can pre-screen members for early mother loss (before age 21) before joining/attending activities. Please email Michelle at [email protected] for info. or go to our Meetup page here.

Washington, DCMay 12 from 10am-1pm
The Remember Me: Mother’s Day Brunch is a gathering to celebrate and remember the women we love most with a community of people who understand. The $15 ticket purchase includes brunch, mimosa bar, healing activities, a Remember Mom Memorial Table, and community. For more details and to purchase a ticket, click here.

Randolph, Massachussetts
May 18 from 3-5 p.m.Remembering Our Mothers – A Gathering of Daughters will be held at the Jonathan Belcher House at 360 N. Main Street in Randolph, MA. The group will discuss the stages of grief, learn strategies for getting centered, and discuss ways to cope so you know you are not alone on this journey. Cost is $25, which includes warm refreshments. For more information or to attend, email [email protected] or click here.

St. Paul, Minnesota (Twin Cities)May 18 from 10am-12:30pmShe Climbs Mountains Mother’s Day Brunch
The She Climbs Mountains nonprofit, founded by Christine Friberg, will be hosting a brunch at Happy Gnome, 498 Selby Ave. The special guest speaker will be Courtney Carter, attorney and She Climbs Mountains Board Member. Cost is $45. Please register by May 9. More information is available here.

Oakland, CAMotherless Daughters — East BayMay 19 at 11 a.m.
Motherless Daughters – East Bay is holding their 8th Annual Circle of Remembrance picnic potluck on at a beautiful picnic site in the Oakland redwoods. To RSVP, please join the group’s facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/motherlessdaughterseastbay/. The group welcomes all Bay Area women, ages 18 and up, whose mothers have died, regardless of how many years have passed since.

Please check back — we’ll be adding more luncheons as the details are confirmed!

May 23-26, 2019Motherless Daughters Early Loss Retreatwith Hope Edelman and Elissa BermanPacific Palisades, CA
Led by Hope and therapist Elissa Berman, this Thursday-Sunday retreat in in Los Angeles will bring together women who lost mothers before age 22 for three days of story sharing, exercises, bonding, and personal growth. Learn more at www.motherlessdaughtersretreats.com

June 22, 2019Minneapolis, MNOne-day Motherless Daughters Pop-Up Workshops
These workshops, in conjunction with She Climbs Mountains, a 502(c)3 nonprofit for women who’ve experienced early or mother loss, will be days of discussion, sharing, and exercises. Specific topics to be covered will be drawn from a survey of participants prior to the weekend. Saturday is for Early Mother Loss (up to age 21) and Sunday’s workshops is for Adult Mother Loss (age 21 and older). Cost $199, includes lunch and all workshop materials. For more information or to register, please click here.

July 30-August 9, 2014Turning Loss Into ServiceCuzco and Machu Picchu, Peru
A ten-day adventure to Peru with a group of motherless daughters and parentless parents, to volunteer in an orphanage in Cuzco and hike through the Lares Valley. This once-in-a-lifetime trip is in partnership with Trekking for Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to providing service to orphans and physical challenges for participants.